Understanding Dyslexia: Supporting Your Child Through Secondary School
If your child has dyslexia, you might be wondering how best to support them through the challenges of secondary school. In this post, I’ll share what it means in real terms, how it can affect KS3 and KS4 students, and the small changes that can make a big difference.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects a person’s ability to process written language fluently. It often impacts reading accuracy, spelling, and working memory, but it is important to remember that dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. Many young people with dyslexia are highly articulate, creative, and insightful thinkers.
In the classroom, however, students with dyslexia may struggle with tasks that require rapid decoding of text, accurate spelling, and processing large amounts of written information in a short space of time.
How Might Dyslexia Affect KS3 and KS4 English Students?
By secondary school, most students with dyslexia will have developed some coping strategies, but the demands of KS3 and KS4 can increase anxieties around literacy. Common challenges include:
Slow processing speed when reading dense or unfamiliar texts.
Difficulties with spelling accuracy, especially in timed exam conditions.
Reduced working memory capacity, making it harder to follow multi-step instructions or retain information read or heard moments earlier.
Avoidance of reading aloud in class due to worries about mispronouncing words.
Organisation difficulties, particularly with written work and revision planning.
Despite these challenges, many dyslexic students excel in areas such as verbal reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, and oral communication.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
Supporting a child with dyslexia doesn’t always require specialist training. Small, consistent changes at home can make a huge difference.
Practical strategies include:
Using coloured overlays or paper if your child finds white backgrounds difficult to read.
Breaking tasks into small, manageable chunks to avoid overwhelm.
Encouraging the use of assistive technology, such as text-to-speech readers or spell-check software.
Reading along with your child - taking turns or using audiobooks for set texts.
Allowing extra time for reading and homework tasks, especially where comprehension is involved.
Focusing on ideas and effort over perfect spelling, particularly in first drafts.
How I Support Dyslexic Students in English Tuition
In my tuition sessions, I always adapt resources and activities to meet individual needs. For students with dyslexia, this might include:
Chunked, dyslexia-friendly worksheets using accessible fonts and clear layouts.
Oral discussion of texts before tackling reading or writing tasks.
Vocabulary-building exercises with visual support.
Mind-mapping and storyboarding activities instead of written plans.
Flexible pacing, with extra time allowed where needed.
Use of coloured overlays or alternative paper backgrounds, depending on the student’s preference.
Most importantly, I build confidence by focusing on strengths — whether that’s insightful ideas, verbal contributions, or creative problem-solving.
Final Thoughts
Dyslexia can present difficulties, particularly in exam-focused secondary education, but with the right support, dyslexic students can thrive. Understanding their challenges and celebrating their talents is the first step.
If you’re concerned about your child’s reading, spelling, or confidence in English, personalised one-to-one tuition can make a real difference.
If you’d like to find out more about how I can support your child with dyslexia, whether online or in-person in South Manchester and surrounding areas, get in touch for a no-obligation chat.
Visit my Contact page to check availability and request a personalised quote.